Category Old Testament

Mar 7 2013

Job 8 – Bildad Speaks: Job Should Repent

Job's Comforters, from the Butts set. Pen and ...

Job’s Comforters, from the Butts set. Pen and black ink, gray wash, and watercolour, over traces of graphite (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

It is supposed by some that Bildad, as a Shuhite, is a descendant of Shuah, who was a son of Abraham and his wife Keturah (Genesis 25:1-2).  He does not waste any time, but starts right away into a stern rebuke of Job, calling his words a great wind.  He even  makes more than a mere suggestion that his children got what they deserved for their sins!  He tells Job that if he will repent and plead for God’s mercy, he will be restored.   In verses 11-19, he waxes eloquent (Job’s friends all seem to have a gift with words, if not with comfort).

Bildad then tells Job that God will not reject a truly blameless man, but neither will he “take the hand of evildoers.”  If Job will just repent of his sins, God, he says, “will fill your mouth with laughter, and your lips with shouting.”

It is hard to imagine how Job can listen to this from his friend and hold back his anger, but truly his misery is great, and he obviously is trying to consider whether his friend may actually be right, in spite of his own convictions.

Read or listen to audio of ESV version of this selection from this link.

/Bob’s boy
___________________
some images © V. Gilbert & Arlisle F. Beers

Please note: I did not design the reading plan that I am following in my blog.  All of my comments in this blog, however, are solely my responsibility.  When reading ANY commentary, you should ALWAYS refer first to the scripture, which is God’s unchanging and unfailing word. Reading schedules, as well as a link to the site where you can get the reading plan that I’m currently following for yourself can be found on the “Bible Reading Schedules” page of my website at http://graceofourlord.com.  For questions and help, please see the “FAQ” and “Summaries” pages there.

Mar 6 2013

Psalm 27-28 – Wait For the Lord

An early printing of Luther's hymn A Mighty Fo...

An early printing of Luther’s hymn A Mighty Fortress Is Our God (Ein feste Burg ist unser Gott) (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The great hymn “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God” is based upon this psalm.  It begins in verses 1-3 with confidence and trust in God.  The words of verse one bring to mind Paul’s letter to the Romans in 8:31. “If God is for us, who can be against us?”  Verse 10’s statement “For my father and my mother have forsaken me, but the Lord will take me in” probably refers to their deaths, meaning “My parents were my protectors for a time; but the Lord will be my Protector always.”  Verse 14 brings a chiastic end to psalm 27, with trust as the word again:

“Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!” 

It is not easy, but we must trust in God and have patience.  He does His work, as He sees fit –  in His time.

Kyle Yates’ commentary appropriately titled the 28th psalm “The Answered Prayer” as it has just two sections: the prayer (verses -15) and the answer (verses 6-9).  The occasion has been identified by Delitzsch as the time of Absalom’s rebellion; and he says that it is third psalm of that time of persecution.  In verse 7, David says that he trusts the Lord with his heart, not just his lips; and he closes the psalm with the image of a shepherd who often have to carry their sheep.

How many occasions in your life can you look back upon, knowing that God must have “carried” you?  It is something I seldom recognize when He is about the business of doing it.  I am quick to pray for God’s help.  But how often when things eventually worked out well have I failed to recognize that it was His work?  Too often, I fail to praise Him as I should.

Read or listen to audio of ESV version of this selection from this link.

/Bob’s boy
___________________
some images © V. Gilbert & Arlisle F. Beers

Please note: I did not design the reading plan that I am following in my blog.  All of my comments in this blog, however, are solely my responsibility.  When reading ANY commentary, you should ALWAYS refer first to the scripture, which is God’s unchanging and unfailing word. Reading schedules, as well as a link to the site where you can get the reading plan that I’m currently following for yourself can be found on the “Bible Reading Schedules” page of my website at http://graceofourlord.com.  For questions and help, please see the “FAQ” and “Summaries” pages there.

Mar 5 2013

Proverbs 17 – The Lord Tests hearts

crucible

Proverbs 17:3: “The crucible is for silver, and the furnace is for gold, and the Lord tests hearts.”

A crucible is a container that is used to melt metal on a furnace. A crucible for silver would usually be made of clay/graphite, and would have to withstand extremely high temperatures, possibly ranging from 1800 – 2500 degrees Fahrenheit.  In the process of refining these precious metals, the impurities float to the surface as “dross” where they can be removed.  The extreme heat makes the precious metals better – richer, and even more pure.

The Lord does test our hearts (1 Chronicles 29:17), for He looks upon man in a different way than other men do (1 Samuel 16:7).  And James tells us that we should “count it all joy” when we encounter trials (James 1:2-4).  So what do we do when those times of trial seem too much to bear?

Ahhh… that’s the part that is most difficult to accept, at least it is for this blogger.  Let’s look closely at what James says in verses 5-8:

“If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.”

Most of my life, I have failed to put verses 5-8 together with verses 4-6.  James is trying to tell us that if we do not know how to “let steadfastness have its full effect,” if we do not seem to be able to cope -to stand the heat, we should ask for God to give us the wisdom to do so.  He has promised to give it “without reproach.”  And God always keeps His promises.  That means He does not disapprove of our asking for it.  He will not chastise us for our weakness, nor will he belittle us for any ineptitude on our part.  But we must ask with faith, not just believing, but knowing that God will deliver that wisdom to us.  That is the kind of faith for which I must continually pray.  I am still working on it.

Read or listen to audio of ESV version of this selection from this link.

/Bob’s boy
___________________
some images © V. Gilbert & Arlisle F. Beers

Please note: I did not design the reading plan that I am following in my blog.  All of my comments in this blog, however, are solely my responsibility.  When reading ANY commentary, you should ALWAYS refer first to the scripture, which is God’s unchanging and unfailing word. Reading schedules, as well as a link to the site where you can get the reading plan that I’m currently following for yourself can be found on the “Bible Reading Schedules” page of my website at http://graceofourlord.com.  For questions and help, please see the “FAQ” and “Summaries” pages there.

Mar 4 2013

Psalm 119:57-64; Psalm 32 – The Earth is Full of Thy Mercy

hethToday’s reading of the eighth strophe of Psalm 119 is brought to you by the letter “heth” or “het.”   regarding verse 64, Spurgeon summons this poem

“Why bursts such melody from tree and bush,
The overflowing of each songster’s heart,
So filling mine that it can scarcely hush
Awhile to listen, but would take its part?
It is but one song I hear where ever I rove,
Though countless be the notes, that God is Love.
“Why leaps the streamlet down the mountainside?
Hasting so swiftly to the vale beneath,
To cheer the shepherd’s thirsty flock, or glide
Where the hot sun has left a faded wreath,
Or, rippling, aid the music of a grove?
Its own glad voice replies, that God is Love!”
“Is it a fallen world on which I gaze?
Am I as deeply fallen as the rest,
Yet joys partaking, past my utmost praise,
Instead of wandering forlorn, unblessed?
It is as if an unseen spirit strove
To grave upon my heart, that God is Love!” Thomas Davis, 1864

Psalm 32 is a psalm of thanksgiving for God’s forgiving grace. David speaks in verses 3-4 of how heavily the burden of guilt weighed upon him before he acknowledged his sins to the Lord (verse 5), and he praises God’s steadfast love and forgiveness.  He then turns in verse 8 to those he would instruct, to rejoice and trust in the Lord.  Spurgeon wrote of the forgiveness which David refers to here:

“We may lull the soul asleep with carnal delights, but the virtue of that opium will be soon spent. All those joys are but stolen waters, and bread eaten in secret—a poor sorry peace that dares not come to the light and endure the trial; a sorry peace that is soon disturbed by a few serious and sober thoughts of God and the world to come; but when once sin is pardoned, then you have true joy indeed. ‘Be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee (Matthew 9:2).'”

Read or listen to audio of ESV version of this selection from this link.

/Bob’s boy
___________________
some images © V. Gilbert & Arlisle F. Beers

Please note: I did not design the reading plan that I am following in my blog.  All of my comments in this blog, however, are solely my responsibility.  When reading ANY commentary, you should ALWAYS refer first to the scripture, which is God’s unchanging and unfailing word. Reading schedules, as well as a link to the site where you can get the reading plan that I’m currently following for yourself can be found on the “Bible Reading Schedules” page of my website at http://graceofourlord.com.  For questions and help, please see the “FAQ” and “Summaries” pages there.

Mar 3 2013

Understanding the Cross of Christ (Part 1)

cross-004Recently, a young person asked me why God sent His only son to die – why was it necessary? Not a real unusual question for someone learning about Christianity to ask. And as someone who was “raised in the church,” it seemed so basic to our Christianity that I remember thinking that it should be a relatively easy question for me to answer. But to my surprise, I found that the spontaneous explanation I was able to come up with in an admittedly brief time seemed wholly inadequate to me – and I vowed to prepare myself to do a better job. What question could be more important for us as Christians to answer? So, as I begin to study and prepare for that “better answer,” I am beginning this series on “Understanding the Cross,” which will be featured on selected Sundays for the next few weeks.

To be sure, the first thing that popped into my head (“to save us from our sins”) was absolutely the correct answer. But it was also one that my young student in his own limited study of God’s word, already knew. After all, the words are in practically every prayer he has ever heard. But standing by itself, it really isn’t much of an answer, is it?

Admittedly, a real study of this question could be made into countless individual lessons, articles, and discussions. It is, after all, what the entire Bible from the Genesis to Revelation is all about, right? So let’s begin in part one of this series, with a brief outline and some more questions; and see if we can provide a meaningful answer to my young friend’s question that is not too difficult to call up to memory when needed. Let’s start by separating the questions into four categories:

What is the problem with sin?

  • What is sin, and how does it affect us?
  • Why does sin matter so much to God?
  • What is its importance to us?

What is God’s response to sin?

  • What are the consequences to us?
  • How was sin dealt with in the Old Testament?
  • Why does God demand a price to be paid for our sin?

How does Jesus fit into God’s plan?

  • Where did Jesus come from?
  • Was He all that everyone expected the Messiah to be?
  • What did his death on the cross accomplish?

What must we do to be saved?

  • What \ Who is a sinner?
  • What can a sinner do to earn salvation?
  • What is the importance of baptism?

Be watching for part 2 of this series, where we will examine the first category of questions above: “What is the problem with sin?”

/Bob’s boy
___________________
image © V. Gilbert & Arlisle F. Beers

Please note: I did not design the reading plan that I am following in my blog.  All of my comments in this blog, however, are solely my responsibility.  When reading ANY commentary, you should ALWAYS refer first to the scripture, which is God’s unchanging and unfailing word. Reading schedules, as well as a link to the site where you can get the reading plan that I’m currently following for yourself can be found on the “Bible Reading Schedules” page of my website at http://graceofourlord.com.  For questions and help, please see the “FAQ” and “Summaries” pages there.

Mar 1 2013

Psalm 25 – Remember Not the Sins of My Youth

David's son Absalom plotted to rebel against David, seize his father's throne and become king. To win favor with the people, he bought a beautiful chariot and horses and rode through the streets of Jerusalem in great honor (2 Samuel 15:1-6).

David’s son Absalom plotted to rebel against David, seize his father’s throne and become king. To win favor with the people, he bought a beautiful chariot and horses and rode through the streets of Jerusalem in great honor (2 Samuel 15:1-6).

Because of the line this blog’s title, it is generally thought that David wrote this psalm in his latter years.  Some claim it to not be a psalm of personal penitence, but rather one that was meant to be used by anyone in distress.  But a time frame just before the Absalom conspiracy is quite likely when considering the penitential aspect of David’s sin with Bathsheba, as well as the mention of strength and number of his foes (verse 19).  It is otherwise a very recognizable psalm as one of the more well-known hymns still sung today – “Unto thee O Lord.”  It is one of the acrostic psalms, although some commentators state that it is imperfect.  But Spurgeon disagrees, stating that in the original text, the twenty-two verses follow the Aleph-bet in perfect order.

Read or listen to audio of ESV version of this selection from this link.

/Bob’s boy
___________________
some images © V. Gilbert & Arlisle F. Beers

Please note: I did not design the reading plan that I am following in my blog.  All of my comments in this blog, however, are solely my responsibility.  When reading ANY commentary, you should ALWAYS refer first to the scripture, which is God’s unchanging and unfailing word. Reading schedules, as well as a link to the site where you can get the reading plan that I’m currently following for yourself can be found on the “Bible Reading Schedules” page of my website at http://graceofourlord.com.  For questions and help, please see the “FAQ” and “Summaries” pages there.

Feb 28 2013

Job 7 – Job Continues: My Life Has No Hope

This is one of the more difficult chapters to read in the book of Job, as we get some sense of Job’s current suffering.  He speaks of his skin healing, and then breaking out afresh; and he describes what could very well be some type parasitic influence as well (verse 5).  He transitions from speaking to his friends, to speaking of God in the third person, to speaking directly to God.

seaHe considers the extent of his suffering to be so great that he asks God if He regards him as large of a threat as a sea monster or the seal itself, so that he needs to be afflicted in this manner to “set a guard” over him.  He has come to believe, clearly, that it is God’s will for him to suffer, and wonders aloud why He won’t forgive whatever transgression Job might be guilty of doing.  Job’s suffering has brought him to the point of losing hope and he again wishes for death to overtake him.

Read or listen to audio of ESV version of this selection from this link.

/Bob’s boy
___________________
some images © V. Gilbert & Arlisle F. Beers

Please note: I did not design the reading plan that I am following in my blog.  All of my comments in this blog, however, are solely my responsibility.  When reading ANY commentary, you should ALWAYS refer first to the scripture, which is God’s unchanging and unfailing word. Reading schedules, as well as a link to the site where you can get the reading plan that I’m currently following for yourself can be found on the “Bible Reading Schedules” page of my website at http://graceofourlord.com.  For questions and help, please see the “FAQ” and “Summaries” pages there.

Feb 27 2013

Psalm 30 – Joy Comes with the Morning

The superscript for this psalm generates some discussion because David, of course, was not around for the dedication of the temple.  That happened during Solomon’s reign.  This of course would not preclude the psalm from having been used on that occasion, but that context is not the nature way that these superscripts are generally phrased.  Others have suggested that it was actually during re-dedication of David’s palace after reclaiming it from Absalom.  One other school of thought is that the psalm was composed during dedication of the threshing floor of Araunah (2 Samuel 24:18-25), after the terrible pestilence that claimed the lives of 70,000.

David instructs Joab to number the people.

David instructs Joab to number the people.

This latter seems quite likely, and the reference to the Lord’s anger does lend some credence to it.  David referred to his former view of his prosperity in verse 6, and the fact that it was his own self-glorification that had led to his command for the numbering of his forces makes for a convincing argument for this explanation. The lesson for us could also be in how quickly our fortunes may be turned when we forget to depend upon the Lord.  As Clarke noted “Peace and prosperity had seduced the heart of David, and led him to suppose that his mountain – his dominion, stood so strong, that adversity could never affect him.”  We must never forget that all that we are blessed with comes from the Lord, and any or all of it could be lost in the twinkling of an eye.  Entire life savings have been wiped out by recent economic tragedy, loved ones we depend on sometimes die.  It is the Lord that is always our rock and our salvation.

Read or listen to audio of ESV version of this selection from this link.

/Bob’s boy
___________________
some images © V. Gilbert & Arlisle F. Beers

Please note: I did not design the reading plan that I am following in my blog.  All of my comments in this blog, however, are solely my responsibility.  When reading ANY commentary, you should ALWAYS refer first to the scripture, which is God’s unchanging and unfailing word. Reading schedules, as well as a link to the site where you can get the reading plan that I’m currently following for yourself can be found on the “Bible Reading Schedules” page of my website at http://graceofourlord.com.  For questions and help, please see the “FAQ” and “Summaries” pages there.

Feb 26 2013

Proverbs 16 – Commit Your Work to the Lord

“All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes,

but the Lord weighs the spirit.”  (Proverbs 16:2)

English: Head-piece to the first epistle of Pa...

English: Head-piece to the first epistle of Paul the apostle to the Corinthians, vignette with water pouring from a crucifix standing over a flaming bowl on a ledge with grain in clouds; letterpress in two columns below and on verso. 1800. Inscriptions: Lettered below image with production detail: “P J de Loutherbourg invt et delt”, “J. Heath direx”. Print made by James Heath. Dimensions: height: 480 millimetres; width: 380 millimetres. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Nobody I know begins their day with the intention of conducting themselves in their daily routine in a manner that will be harmful to others, or displeasing to the Lord.  This is not to say that none of us ever do wrong willfully, but most of the time we believe that we are doing what is right.  Being pure of actions in our own eyes can also mean that we try to get what we need, and do what we must, with as little thought to others as possible.  But Paul says in 1 Corinthians 4:4:

For I am not aware of anything against myself,

but I am not thereby acquitted. It is the Lord who judges me.

So how then should we go about our business?  The answer comes in verse three:

Commit your work to the Lord,

and your plans will be established.

If we begin each day in prayer to God for His divine guidance to direct our hearts in conducting our daily affairs, He will not withhold the wisdom we need in doing so.

Read or listen to audio of ESV version of this selection from this link.

/Bob’s boy
___________________

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some images © V. Gilbert & Arlisle F. Beers

Please note: I did not design the reading plan that I am following in my blog.  All of my comments in this blog, however, are solely my responsibility.  When reading ANY commentary, you should ALWAYS refer first to the scripture, which is God’s unchanging and unfailing word. Reading schedules, as well as a link to the site where you can get the reading plan that I’m currently following for yourself can be found on the “Bible Reading Schedules” page of my website at http://graceofourlord.com.  For questions and help, please see the “FAQ” and “Summaries” pages there.

Feb 25 2013

Psalm 119:49-56; Psalm 26 – Your Promise Gives Me Life

ZayinToday’s stanza of Psalm 119 is brought to you by the seventh letter of the Aleph-Bet, Zayin.  The pictograph is sometimes represented as a sword with a crown or sometimes as a plow or a sickle .   It is interesting that in light of the fact that most commentators disagree on the time frame for authorship of this psalm, some cannot even agree with their own assessment.  Adam Clarke, for example, was convinced at one point that it was written during Babylonian captivity, yet at other times thought that it may well have come from David’s hand after all.  Both views have merit especially in this stanza, or strophe.  Verses 49-50 certainly hint at one who is eagerly looking forward to the promised return from captivity, which is his comfort in this time of affliction.

It is better in our case to apply it to ourselves as was no doubt the intent in the first place.  We take comfort in the promises that God has made to us all in His Son, Jesus Christ.  It is His victory over death that should make the promise of eternal life a burning fire within our souls.    And our love for the Lord should give us righteous indignation at a wicked world that ignores His commandments and glorifies sin as if it were something to be admired.

Psalm 26 is sometimes thought to be written by David when he was accused of treachery against then king, Saul.  He prays to the Lord for vindication against his accusers, and declares his adherence to God’s rule and to his own integrity, which he refers to again in verse 11.  He humbly pleads with the Lord to “Prove me, O Lord, and try me; test my heart and my mind.”  Integrity is a watchword for David in many of his psalms, and it comes through loud and clear in this one, as he expresses his confidence in his commitment to it, all made possible by the faithfulness of the Lord and His graciousness to his servant.

Read or listen to audio of ESV version of this selection from this link.

/Bob’s boy
___________________
some images © V. Gilbert & Arlisle F. Beers

Please note: I did not design the reading plan that I am following in my blog.  All of my comments in this blog, however, are solely my responsibility.  When reading ANY commentary, you should ALWAYS refer first to the scripture, which is God’s unchanging and unfailing word. Reading schedules, as well as a link to the site where you can get the reading plan that I’m currently following for yourself can be found on the “Bible Reading Schedules” page of my website at http://graceofourlord.com.  For questions and help, please see the “FAQ” and “Summaries” pages there.